Toyoya Li's 'Pixel Temple' Transforms Obsolete Tech into Digital Folklore at Migrant Bird Space
Migrant Bird Space is set to unveil 'Pixel Temple,' an expansive installation by Chinese pixel artist Toyoya Li (Li Fan), which transforms outdated technologies into modern visual storytelling. The exhibition will commence on May 15, 2026, and continue until July 3, 2026. It emphasizes the pixel as a fundamental unit of energy, showcasing works such as Fútù (Fortune Rabbit) and Jīxióng (Machine Bear). Utilizing repetition and lenticular surfaces, the design aims to create a sense of instability that encourages viewer interaction. Li, a prominent figure in contemporary pixel art and a member of the Fenaki collective, has received the Excellent and Beyond Pixel Art Awards (2021) and has served as a judge since 2022. His art is featured in international exhibitions and collections, including Portugal's Shift Gallery, while Migrant Bird Space promotes cultural exchange between China and Europe.
Key facts
- Toyoya Li (Li Fan) is the artist behind 'Pixel Temple' at Migrant Bird Space.
- The exhibition runs from May 15 to July 3, 2026, with an opening on May 15 at 7 pm.
- The installation uses obsolete technologies: floppy disks, arcade cabinets, CD-ROMs, and fax machines.
- Two emblematic figures, Fútù (Fortune Rabbit) and Jīxióng (Machine Bear), represent digital dualities.
- Li won the Excellent and Beyond Pixel Art Awards at Tokyo's Shibuya Pixel Art Contest in 2021 and has been a judge since 2022.
- Li's work has been exhibited at New York's Giphy TIME FRAME and Switzerland's FANTOCHE Festival.
- Li is recognized as one of the world's top 30 GIF artists by Designmantic.
- Migrant Bird Space has gallery spaces in Berlin, Beijing, and Shanghai.
Entities
Artists
- Toyoya Li
- Li Fan
Institutions
- Migrant Bird Space
- Fenaki animation collective
- Shibuya Pixel Art Contest
- Giphy TIME FRAME
- FANTOCHE Festival
- Shift Gallery
- Designmantic
- Nike
- BMW
Locations
- Berlin
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Tokyo
- New York
- Switzerland
- Portugal
- Koppenplatz
- Germany
- China